All aboard! Take your seat aboard the crazy Runaway Mine Train for a guaranteed fantastic family adventure into the heart of Katanga Canyon, zooming over pathways, twisting through woodland and descending into a dark tunnel. Choo, Choo! Oh Yeah!
Need2Know
- Min. Rider Height: 1.1m
- Unaccompanied Height: 1.3m
- Max. Rider Height: 1.96m
- Ride Photography: Yes
- Fastrack: Yes
Tech Specs
- Manufacturer: Mack Rides
- Ride Type: Powered Coaster
- Opened: March 1992
- Cost: £3 million
- Track Length: 456m
- Max. Track Height: 21m
- Max. Speed: Approx 36km/h
- G-Force: 2.4G
- Weight: 175 tonnes
- Passengers per Car: 46
- Capacity: 1062 riders per hour
- Duration: 2 mins 30 secs
After boarding the incredibly long ride train, riders are secured into place by a lap bar before the adventure begins. Prior to embarking on your adventure through Katanga Canyon, guests will be waved off by an enthusiastic ride operator with a chorus of “Choo Choo”, an iconic catch phrase that has now been attached to the ride!
After leaving the station, your runaway train will begin a sweeping helix upwards to the left, passing behind the rider operator cabin, past a ringing bell and over the entrance to the queue line. This is followed by a series of several bunny hop hills where several low hanging signs will warn riders to watch their heads.
After passing over the pathway to Gloomy Wood and over the neighbouring Congo River Rapids channel, the train will perform a large downhill helix, banking to the left and picking up speed at a rapid pace. Upon exiting the helix, guests are presented with a view of the roaring Rapids channel ahead before a very sudden downwards right turn occurs. The ride gathers speed at an alarming pace, carrying riders down into a dark tunnel whilst the on ride photo camera captures the moment.
The ride now runs parallel alongside the Rapids, allowing frequent guest interaction between the two rides. After emerging from the tunnel through a carved pathway between plenty of foliage, the ride ascends up a slight slope, before turning to the right and back into the station. But that isn’t the end of the experience! The train will continue onwards, speeding past the platform to repeat the circuit all over again! Sometimes, guests will even be treated to a third circuit on the ride. Oh yeah!
In 1992, guests were treated to two brand new additions to the theme park. One of them promised to be an exciting family adventure through the brand new area, Katanga Canyon, alongside the neighbouring Congo River Rapids.
An incident in 2006 saw the ride train split in half, sustaining extensive damage to the carriages and also causing several injuries distributed amongst the riders who were onboard at the time. Thankfully, the injuries sustained were not severe, but the ride remained closed for the rest of the season whilst attempts were made to repair the coaster. The ride reopened in April 2007, albeit with a shortened train. This was due to the ride’s manufacturer, Mack Rides, still undergoing repair work on the remaining carriages. In June 2007, the full train was restored and operation continued as normal.
With The Beastie’s removal in 2012 after being listed as standing but not operating] since 2010, Runaway Mine Train obtained the title of the oldest rollercoaster at Alton Towers and still remains a firm favourite in the line up today.
From the 2024 season, Runaway Mine Train’s minimum height restriction was increased from 0.9m to 1.1m and the unaccompanied height from 1.1m to 1.3m.